Detergent composition



Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE DETERGENT COMPOSITION ZlTo Drawing.

This invention relates to detergent compositions; and it comprises a detergent and antiseptic, non-corrosive, stable composition, easily miscible with water and containing a relatively large proportion of a carbon chlorid and also containing neutral cocoanut oil soap, a neutral soda soap of a sulfonated fatty oil (most advantageously castor oil) and sodium carbonate in amount suflicient to establish and maintain a permanent sodiumcarbonate alkalinity, thereby stabilizing the mixtures; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

The various carbon chlorids (carbon tetrachlorid, chloroform, dichlorethylene, tetrachlorethylene, etc. etc.) are excellent solvents for oily and greasy matters and they are often used in extracting oils from seeds. Their use as detergents in the form-of solutions or dispersions in a relatively large quantity of water has been proposed for many years. Their actual solubility in water is quite small, but they can readily be made into solutions, or dispersions equivalent to solutions, with the aid of soaps. Such a solution readily attacks and removes greasy matter and does not affect the ordinary varnish gums or paints. It is an excellent thing for cleaning automobile lacquers and the like.

The solutions are also useful for treating textile fibers. They have a certain measure of antiseptic value. A solution or dispersion of 1 to 5 per cent of trichlorethylene in water has been regarded as particularly desirable.

It has however hitherto been found impracticable to produce stable, non-corrosive preparations containing these carbon chlorids in a form readily miscible with water.

While most of the carbon chlorids are regarded as stable bodies per se, in contact with water or moisture on long keeping they are apt to develop enough HCl to produce corrosion of metal containers, and injure fibers,

paints, etc. In compound miscible preparations of these carbon halides with the aid of Application filed May 7, 1928. Serial No. 275,978.

tions containing a carbon chlorid, this development of HCl in time may finally impair or destroy the miscibility of the preparation with water. Trichlorethylene, for example, while stable in a pure condition and even towards alkali and water on short' contact therewith, undergoes changes. on long contact with either. The development of acidity by hydrolysis or by intramolecular changes appears to be a self-accelerating phenome non; that is, when 1101 once appears and the mixture becomes acid the action becomes more rapid.

With trichlorethylene and other carbon halides in compositions containing soap, HGl is taken up by the alkali of the soap as it appears but there is corresponding development of acidity by liberation of free fatty acids; and this acidity has a like accelerating effect. By using caustic alkali in excess in the composition, there is no development of acidity; but NaOH and KOH themselves decompose carbon chlorids in time.

So, while it is possibleto make preparasoap and the like, which will disperse readily in water and exercise a good detergent action, in practice it has been found impossible commercially to make such a composition which could be stored and packaged without deterioration, and particularly in metal containers. It is a purpose of the present in-' vention to provide such a composition; one which can be packaged and stored, retaining indefinitely its misclbility with water. i

I have found that the presence of sodium carbonate (soda ash) in miscible carbon chlorid compositions of this type makes the compositions non-corrosive and stable. The amount used should be su'flicient to neutralize all initial acidity and provide a substantial excess. No development of acidity takes place, and, on the other hand, the sodium carbonate does not attack the carbon chlorid under the conditions used. I have found that into solution. With sodium carbonate present in small amount, I can make clear preparations, clearly miscible with water and containing unusually large amounts of carbon chlorids. In the case of trichlorethylene,

compositions can readily be made carrying 50 per cent trichlorethylene, and good preparations can be produced carrying as high as per cent. I regard compositions with about 60 per cent trichlorethylene as most advantageous.

Potassium carbonate may be used in lieu of sodium carbonate and gives good preparations. Sodium carbonate, however, is cheaper and has some other advantages.

In making miscible compositions under the present invention, I employ, in addition ,to the carbon chlorid, the sodium carbonate and water, a certain amount of neutral soap and a certain amount of the sodium soa of a sulfonated fat or oil. As the neutra soap, by far the most advantageous kind is the type known as marine soap; that is, soap which can be used with sea water. Marine soap is generally made with the aid of cocoanut oil, although some other palm nut oils may be used. Marine soaps give me better compositions than soaps made from the ordinary fatty oils. As the sulfonated fatty oil, I have found sulfonated castor oil most advantageous for my purposes, in spite of its relatively high price. The sulfonated fatty oil is used in the form of sodium soap. Potassium soap can however be used, as can a marine soap having a potash base.

In a practical embodiment of the present invention producing a clearly miscible permanent preparation containing trichlorethylene, I first make a blending liquid by melting together 10 parts by weight of powdered cocoanut oil soap, or other commercial marine soap, 2 parts of commercial 58 per cent soda ash and 20 parts of water. With this I mix about an equal amount of sulfonated castor oil containing, say, 15 per cent free fatty acid, which may be neutralized before addition. However, the prescribed amount of soda ash is sufficient for neutralization and for producing all the excess carbonate alkalinity I desire. By carbonate alkalinity is meant an alkalinity equivalent to that found by the titration methods (for the determination of alkali carbonates) of C. Winkler or of Warder, for example. These methods are described in Treadwell & Hall. Analytical Chemistry, Vol. II, 7th Edition, pages 487-489. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York (1930). Into this blending liquid is slowly stirred an amount of trichlorethylene SUlfiClBIlt to give the desired percentage in the final product. With the quantities mentioned, in order to form a 42 per cent preparation, 60 parts by weight of trichlorethylene may be added. To obtain a per cent preparation, which is about as high as can be conveniently made, I add 250 parts by weight of trichlorethylene. For a 50 per cent preparation, which is a convenient strength, I add parts by weight of trichlorethylene, while a 60 per cent compound requires the addition of 120 parts. These various preparations are all readily miscible with water. I generally use them as dilute solutions in water using, say, an ounce in a gallon of water for cleaning lacquers, or a 3 per cent solution for textile work. The dilute solutions made from my concentrated preparations are freely liquid buthave a low surface tension, which can be increased by adding to the composition as above stated 10 parts by weight of 95 per cent commercial glycerin or 10 parts by weight of denatured alcohol. I frequently add both. The pre arations with these additions are a litt e clearer and more attractive in appearance. Commercial hydrogen peroxid may be used 'in place of water, and has the advantage of imparting bleaching properties to the composition. Preparations of the same general character can be made by substituting other carbon chlorids, such as carbon tetrachlorid, for the trichlorethylene, but without advantage in detergent power.

What I claim is 2-- 1. A stable, non-corrosive detergent composition miscible with water and comprising the following ingredients in the proportions by weight:

Parts Cocoanut oil soap 10 Sodium carbonate (58 per cent) 2 Water 20 Monosulfonated castor oil (15 per cent free fatty acid) Glycerin, 95 per cent l 10 Alcohol 10 Trichlorethylene 80 to 250 2. A stable, non-corrosive detergent composition miscible with water, the'said compositioncomprising more than 50 per cent of a hydrocarbon chlorid admixed with other materials, the said other materials comprising sulfonated vegetable oil, soap, water and a small amount of an alkali carbonate of the class consisting of sodium and potassium carbonates, the said alkali carbonate being dissolved therein and being present in amount suflicient to render and maintain the said composition alkaline with carbonate alkalinity.

3. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 2 in which said hydrocarbon chlorid is trichlorethylene.

4. A detergent composition set forth in claim 2 in which the said alkali carbonate is sodium carbonate.

5. A stable, aqueous detergent composition, miscible with water, containing soaps,

,sulfonated vegetable oils and a predominatin amount of a hydrocarbon chlorid; the said composition also containing an alkali metal carbonate in amount suflicient to produce a permanent carbonate alkalinity, whereby said composition is rendered stable.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

ALBERT G. GLOVER. 

